Funding programme

PEACEPLUS is a funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is the successor programme to both PEACE IV and INTERREG VA.

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Call overview

This call aims to enhance growth and competitiveness of SMES and lead to an increase in job creation.

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Call detail

This investment area will build upon existing investment to support SMEs to operate at scale through cross-border collaboration; engage in commercially led innovation; effectively transition to engage in the low carbon, circular economy; support SMEs to deliver productivity improvements or transition to the latest digital tools; and strengthen the Programme Area SME base for maximum engagement in a globally challenging economic landscape and where the increasing cost of doing business is a significant challenge for companies.

Please note: this is the first call to open under this Investment Area. The SEUPB will open a second call in 2025 to support the output indicator: RCO02 - Enterprises supported by grants.

This output indicator RCO02 must not form part of any project application in this current call.  However, it is important that potential applicants are aware of what is to come in the future, in case they may wish to consider/coordinate the activity within their application for this current call.  Financial assistance will come under a scheme named Open Projects and all details as to how that will oeprate can be located in the call document.

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Objective of this call            

This objective will enhance growth and competitiveness of SMES and lead to an increase in job creation.

It will result in the development of a stronger, more innovative and collaborative cross-border Programme Area SME base, which is delivering higher levels of productivity, exports and sustainable employment.  Therefore, in order to be attractive and relevant for SMEs, the programmes offered must demonstrate co-design with SMEs and address real practical needs and requirements.

‍Read more details in the call document.

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Eligibility

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Eligible to apply are:

• National, regional and local authorities;
• Regional and local development agencies, chambers of commerce;
• Universities, colleges, higher education, research institutions;
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
• Sectoral agencies and business support organisations;
• Voluntary sector organisations;
• Other relevant public-like organisations contributing to the development of the programme area;
• Private sector – specifically micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies.

Please note the above is not an exhaustive list, other bodies may be considered eligible

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Programme Area

The programme area for the PEACEPLUS Programme is:

• Northern Ireland;
• The border counties of Ireland (Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo).

This is the core programme area. The programme, however, has flexible geography beyond its administrative borders called a functional area. This allows for organisations and institutions not based in the core programme area to get involved in projects by linking with partners within the core area. The benefits of such collaborations must be significant for the core programme area.

Cross border collaboration is not strictly limited to the administrative borders of the Programme. It has a flexible geography depending on the sector involved. For some other interventions, the solution is purely local, corresponding to an area much smaller than the core Programme area.

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Budget

€20 million is available in this call.

Grants are available to cover 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects/Partners may wish to bring additional match funding into the project, applicants should seek further advice from SEUPB on this before the call closes.

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Support

For general queries about the call please contact the SEUPB on jems@seupb.eu